He wasn't quite sure exactly when his feelings had transmuted from admiration and infatuation into hatred. It had been a gradual process. He had stopped viewing Harry in a golden light, stopped believing that Harry could do no wrong, stopped… yes, well, sufficient to say that the infatuation had left before the admiration.
The list of reasons to dislike Harry was extremely long.
But on the top of the list was his relationship with Severus Snape.
Colin Creevey could forgive Harry for many, many things.
Fucking that greasy, vindictive, malevolent son of a bitch was not one of them. Colin couldn't imagine why anyone would waste their affections on that bastard. There was no point to it.
Severus Snape was incapable of love.
This wasn't really a reason to hate. Perhaps he didn't feel hate at all. Perhaps it was more… disgust. Frustration. Annoyance. Something negative, anyway. Not hatred.
Still. It was a long way from the admiration and infatuation with which he had once looked upon his idol.
"Clearly, then, you never really liked and knew the real Harry," Ginny said coolly to her husband once he explained (leaving out the infatuation).
"What?"
"If you no longer admire him only because he's in a relationship with Snape, then you don't really know him. Ask them to tea and you'll see what I mean."
"I won't have that wanker in my house."
"In case you've forgotten, this is my house too, and Harry is a good friend of mine. And if he's chosen to bed Snape, that's his business," Ginny answered icily. "And you will respect his decision."
"Remind me why I agreed to this," Severus groused.
"Because Ginny is like a sister to me, and it's natural I want to have tea with her once in a while. And you agreed because you love me."
Severus smiled slightly. He scowled at the pounding on the door.
"Go open it. It seems someone is rather impatient."
Colin entered, looking extremely annoyed. Ginny bustled in, embracing Harry immediately and kissing him on both cheeks.
They sat down, and Harry served tea. Ginny added sugar to hers and milk to Colin's. Harry squeezed half a lemon into a cup and deftly added a spoonful of sugar while Severus added three spoonfuls of sugar and a touch of lemon to the cup of tea in his hands.
Then they switched cups.
"No one prepares a cup of tea like Severus," Harry laughed as he sipped his.
"Scoring points now, are we, gremlin?" Severus asked.
Colin looked scandalized at the sobriquet. Ginny smiled slightly.
"Of course, Sev," Harry grinned. "I need them, don't you think? I think I'll trade in for a kiss…"
Severus' lips twitched. "Not now, gremlin. Mr. Creevey is looking horrified at the mere thought."
"Gremlin?" Colin finally asked.
"Sev's little nickname for me."
Severus smiled at Harry slightly and covered Harry's hand with his. "It fits, don't you think?"
Colin knew the exact moment his hatred transmuted into admiration.
Transmute – transitive verb. 1. To change from one nature, form, substance, or state into another; to transform.
Intransitive verb: 1. To undergo transmutation. ('s Word of the Day, March 19, 2008)